I hate when people try to make you feel bad because you succeed more than most. If you think for a second that Phish is not at all monetarily motivated, you are dead wrong. There is also nothing wrong with that. They are very talented and have provided so many of us with some of the best memories of our lives. They should be well rewarded for their talent. Those who skeeve their way through tour, all the more power to you, but that is not what the scene is about.

The scene is about sharing a common love for the music and atmosphere. If you want to party, go ahead; if you want to grub your way across the country, be my guest, but don't be spiteful towards me because I work my ass off and still enjoy the same things as you. These four guys we pay $$ to go see are very wealthy, let there be no mistaking it. However, it is well deserved. On that note, let me share a story with you.

In college I was totally on top of tour dates, mail order, etc. But now I have a career but still wouldn't miss a show for the world. So, I shelled out $200 bucks for me and a buddy to see the boys @ Camden this past summer. Bought the tickets on Ebay from a reputable guy I have dealt with before. Totally didn't check the ticket dates, and ended up ordering tickets for the wrong day. Problem is that I didn't realize until I handed my ticket in to the checker at the gate who said, "you can't come in, this is from last night."

This is kind of like the whole "I dreamt I was @ school but w/ no clothes on" type of phenomenon. Just imaging traveling 2 hrs. to Camden (not my favorite city in the world), waiting on line, inviting your friend for his birthday, etc. and then having the person @ the gate say, sorry charlie, you should have come last night when your ticket would have been valid. I Felt like a total d-bag, but we had no choice but to walk against the crowd on their way in. Nothing like being in Camden w/ nothing to do on a rainy evening in late July.

We went to will call and tried to score tickets w/ no luck. Soon enough a guy came up to us and said he had 1 ticket to sell. That is not exactly what we were looking to hear since we were two people, it was raining, and our 5th row tickets were no good because they were for the night before. This awesome guy said he would help us find another ticket. Soon enough, we found a guy w/ a back stage pass around his neck that had 2 box seats for sale ($50 each). We scooped them right up. Ended up being ridiculous seats and a show to remember (see setlist for second night of Camden 2003).

Bottom line is that I have miracled people before, bought tickets, received free tickets, etc, but this night everything came back to help me. Went from worst to 1st in a matter of minutes. If I wasn't willing to pay a few extra bucks for a ticket these memories wouldn't be in my head, and that, my friends, is a great reason to succeed, be patient, and reap the rewards of being a generous and motivated person.

P